“There may not be a house within a hundred miles, and there may be one within ten. All we can do is to struggle on, and as it’s getting night and looks like snow, we had better hurry away from this level prairie.”
In the far distance trees were visible, and the boys, keeping them in view, trudged wearily onwards.
Snow began to fall late in the afternoon, and this caused Will to urge the lagging Tom to hasten his pace, and endeavor to reach the timber ere night and storm overtook them.
They reached a scattering woods finally. Seeking a place to camp for the night, Tom startled his companion with a welcome discovery.
It was the track of horses’ feet and wagon wheels along the edge of the timber, and they were quite fresh.
“Some vehicle has passed here lately, sure,” said Will, quite excitedly.
“Let us follow up the tracks,—they may lead to some town,” suggested Tom.
This course seemed a wise one, and was immediately followed, but when the road diverged to the opening all traces were hidden by the fast falling snow.
Darkness coming down showed a dreary waste of snow lying before them far as the eye could reach.
“We had better find a camp for the night,” said Will.